Moldova has the legal framework needed to ensure a transparent and participative decision-making process, but this does not efficiently work at local level. Most of the local public authorities apply the information in decision-making selectively and fragmentarily, the jurist of the National Business Agenda (NBA) Viorel Parvan says in a comment, quoted by IPN.
According to the jurist, among the most frequent deviations is the absence of a website with a relevant division, non-informing of the sides about the initiation of the decision drafting process and the lack of public debates. The local public authorities do not inform the community about most of the documents issued and adopted by these or inform the people selectively. The law on transparency in the decision-making process is not observed for a number of reasons, including the insufficient knowledge of the legal provisions, the lack of technical and financial resources and the absence of instruments for imposing penalties for non-observance of transparency in decision-making.
The comment says the national legislation does not contain clear and detailed norms about the control and punishment mechanisms at local level, while the State Chancellery is limited in its acts by the principle of local self-government, which governs the activity of the local authorities in the territorial-administrative units of the country.
Viorel Parvan recommends adding detailed and systematized norms about the transparency in the decision-making process to the Law on the Local Public Administration. The local public authorities should institute and strengthen dialogue and consultation platforms in decision-making and should use and implement electronic and e-government instruments, while the public should be informed at all the stages of the process, including after the decision is made.
Launched by the Institute for Development and Social Initiative “Viitorul” in 2008, the National Business Agenda is a common platform of over 30 representative business associations and chambers of trade and industry of Moldova.
